NikkiLS28

I have the Frontside/Backside for Beginners combo DVD (Target for $12 I think). It's a good place to start for someone who has a low fitness level. It's not the most exciting DVD, but it works. She mixes cardio with strength in a circuit format. All can be done with a sturdy chair, hand weights and a resistance band - add…

Lived in eastern Muskegon county for the first 18 years of my life (parents are still there). Spent a year in Marquette, 1 in Holland, 3 in Grand Rapids, 1.5 in Kalamazoo, and now I've been in Essexville (just east of Bay City) for the last six months. I did spend a year each in SW Virginia and Pensacola, Florida, but…

I had a bi-level fusion (C4-C6) two and a half years ago after dealing with awful pain and muscle spasms for over three years. If it hadn't taken so long to get decent health insurance, I would have done it a lot sooner. I did PT, stopped lifting anything over 15lbs, got fancy pillows, etc. Since I dealt with it so long,…

Unless you grunt with every jump, I can't imagine jumping rope could be very loud. It's your yard, too!

I'm from Michigan, and yes I really do use my hand to explain where I live :)

Bump for later!

I have the vanilla cream and it tastes like any other low carb vanilla shake (if you make it that way). It blends well as long as you use a shaker bottle or blender. It's nice to add to other things to increase protein. My favorite is my high protein chocolate milk - milk, protein powder, cocoa powder, fructose (or…

This is completely false. All of the collection accounts on my credit report (the ones that hurt your score) are medical related. If you don't pay the bill, eventually the hospital/doctor will send the account to a collection agency who will report it to the credit bureaus. I heartily agree with contacting the financial…

I took ASL 1 last fall and LOVED it. I wish I had room in my schedule for this fall semester but I'm already packed in with 17 credits. My instructor made me promise to continue taking classes because I picked it up so quickly. I plan on keeping that promise! :)

You say you're on a 1200 plan, but you aren't going above 1000 on a regular basis. You should add in some lean protein and vegetables to get yourself to 1200. Good luck!

I had this done about four years ago. Other than getting over the post-anesthesia grogginess, it wasn't that bad. I only had a bit of discomfort the next day, but that was probably due to them removing my IUD and putting in a new one. Good luck on the biopsy!

The grilled chicken club at McD's is about 450 even with the bun and the mayo. And it's really filling :) It's one of my 'safe' foods when I'm out and need food.

I guess it really depends on your goal - increase muscle mass or burn fat (since your body can't really do both at the same time). As a previous poster mentioned, I have some DVDs that do this, but the 'strength training' is pretty light.

I've only been at this for three weeks (6lbs down so far), but I had one this morning. I bought a sundress about five years ago that I adore. It fit wonderfully when I bought it, but I had gained about 25lbs since then. I tried it on last summer and it was just a little too snug around my stomach and hips that I didn't…

I think it sounds like a great idea. You're celebrating your marriage and the health of your family - great reason to party! :)

I picked up Jillian Michaels For Beginners Frontside/Backside DVD set at Target for $12. I wanted to die the first day, but I overdid it by starting out full force with jumping jacks. I keep to marching/jogging in place for some of the cardio intervals she has and I do much better :) She gives lots of tips on how to make…

40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fat is a good place to start. You can tweak it from there (and yes you can change MFP settings to this)

I try to avoid artificial sweeteners because they're too sweet. When I eat these regularly, I crave sweets ALOT. I cut out diet soda completely a few weeks ago and it made a huge difference (even though I didn't drink it every day). When I need to sweeten something, I use fructose (available in health food stores or larger…

I had neck issues (well, still do, but not as bad) and my physical therapist gave me some stretches and posture exercises to help. My favorite stretch: Sit up nice and tall. Grab the back of your head with your right hand. While keeping your back straight, turn/bend your head down like you're sniffing your right armpit.…

As much as I love that store (80% of my closet is from there), I would love to not be able to shop there. Congratulations!!

If you're doing multiple exercises and getting your heart rate up, circuit training is probably the closest.

I would have a hard time not eating the cool whip before I got started :) yummmmy

My jaw issues started with popping. Then it locked one day (for just a few seconds, but it freaked me out). I got a night guard that I wore pretty regularly. Then I ended up with this weird splint thing I wore during the day. Eventually, my symptoms got better. A few years later, out of the blue, I woke up one morning and…

I have the double belly too, in addition to a weird 'cut-in' below my hips - which is VERY annoying to find clothes that don't make me look bigger than I am. I chalk it up to wearing panties that were far too small when I was growing up (and getting chubbier). My fat just filled in where it could, around the restrictions…

Was just a thought since poor form during crunches can strain those muscles along with your neck :)

Do you do a lot of ab crunches?

So this. Sweets are my serious weakness. Thankfully, since I've cut out a majority of the sugar, I don't crave it as much anymore. But if I had a chewy brownie with walnuts in it in front of me right now, that ***** would be gone!

Alpha Xi Delta - Delta Delta Chapter at Northern Michigan U - Class of 2000! :)

I did WW faithfully for 3 months and didn't budge. They don't encourage balanced eating, even with the 'free' veggies and fruit. Personally, I'm carb-sensitive, so I really need to watch the carb intake (specifically refined carbs). WW didn't help me with this really. On here, I can see where my macro-nutrient proportions…

Just outside Bay City. I just recently because an exercise person, so I can't really speak for being motivated in the winter. Hopefully I'll have an exercise habit by then and I'll get creative to find ways! :) There are some really nice walking trails around here that I hope to enjoy thoroughly this summer/fall.